Dumbest Moments in Sports

"They're both ready. But Erskine is dropping his curveball in the dirt," -- Clyde Sukeforth.

 

While this lasted more than just a moment: the NHL lockout of 1994 -- with a chance to actually make some headway in the American market with baseball striking, they forever doomed themselves to mediocrity and TV ratings below bowling and poker. Thanks Bettman. How did that lockout work out for you anyways? Absolutely brutal.

 

Also from the hockey world there is the Marty McSorely hatchet job on Donald Brashear and Todd Bertuzzi jumping Steve Moore. Two incidents that ruined three careers and left huge black marks on the game. The only career not ruined was Brashear's.

You could also add the Steve Smith own goal in the playoffs that gave the Flames the lead in game 7 of the Smythe Division Final. Some 23rd birthday for Smith. Could have been five straight Stanley Cups and six in seven years had it not been for that one errant pass. Instead the Flames went on to lose to the an upstart Montreal Canadiens team in the Cup final.

http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/clips/15103/

 

I get Example 1, Beef -- especially with McSorley, who was smarter than his on-ice persona. But I'm not with you on No. 2.

Smith's own goal goes in the "shit happens" file. Wayne Gretzky himself put it there the following year when the Oilers won the Cup. He took the Cup as captain and handed it to Smith

 

As a Saints fan, I'd put New Orleans taking Russell Erxleben with the first pick of the '79 draft up there somewhere. :-X

 

Fred Brown passing the ball to James Worthy in the NCAA Championship game.

Vince Coleman getting eaten by the tarp in the 85 Series.

 

Leader in the clubhouse, book division

 

The Oakland Raiders selecting JaMarcus Russell, with the first pick in the entire NFL draft.

 

The Smith own goal was such a bonehead play though. One of the first things you learn as a defenceman is to never pass it up the middle or in front of your own net. Yes he felt some pressure coming, but he also had two players open on the left wing -- Don Jackson inside the hash along the boards, and some guy named Gretzky further up. He didn't even look. It was a rookie mistake and one he'll unfortunately never live down. I was about 3 1/2 at the time and well before my hockey consciousness, so it really doesn't matter to me, but it was much more than just a shit happens play. And yes it was a classy move by Gretzky to seek out Smith and hand the cup off to him the next year as if to say "forget about last year". Would not expect anything different from him.

 

5th down.
Reggie Bush lateraling it to...no one in particular in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
Celebration penalty on AJ Green. I particularly like this one, seeing how the SEC on CBS still uses that TD as part of its lead-in highlights package.